Kadena Language Institute Graduation

U.S. Air Force Col. Roftiel Constantine, 18th Mission Support Group Commander, congratulates students from students who graduated from Kadena Language Institute, March 9, 2012, at the Kadena Town Central Community Center, Okinawa, Japan. The 18th Wing annually accepts KLI student interns and provides hands-on work experiences in an English-speaking environment. The class of 2012 worked at various units on Kadena Air Base. (Courtesy Photo of Kadena Language Institute)

Kadena Language Institute Graduation

Takashi Umeki, a graduate from the Kadena Language Institute poses for a photo with U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Manuel Makalena, deputy fire chief of 18th Civil Engineer Group, March 9, 2012, at the Kadena Town Central Community Center, Okinawa, Japan. Umeki won the 18th Wing Best Intern Award while he participated in the annual 18th Wing KLI program that provides student interns with hands-on work experiences in an English-speaking environment. (Courtesy Photo of Kadena Language Institute)

Wing celebrates KLI graduation

Published March 15, 2012
By Sayaka Kawatake
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- March is graduation season in Japan and like many flowers that bloom in spring, it is time for new graduates to bud. Kadena Language Institute celebrated its 13th graduation ceremony, March 9, at the Kadena Town Central Community Center.

Col. Roftiel Constantine, the 18th Mission Support Group commander and Lt. Col. Peter Pollock, 18 MSG deputy commander, attended the graduation ceremony. Constantine presented the 18th Wing Best Intern Award to Takashi Umeki, a student who worked at the Kadena Fire Station. During his internship, he showed remarkable progress and improvement, earning him the award.

"Choosing one person for this award was especially difficult this year because from everything I have heard from (the interns') supervisors, each of (them) performed superbly and fully deserves this award," Constantine said after presenting the award.

Umeki's supervisor during the internship, Senior Mast Sgt Manuel Makalena, the 18th Civil Engineer deputy fire chief, was also present to congratulate him on the award.

"I was blessed to be able to show my support for the event and the accomplishments of the students" Makalena said.

The 18th Wing annually accepts KLI student interns and provides hands-on work experiences in an English-speaking environment. The class of 2012 worked at various units on Kadena. Upon graduation, four of the students will enter college and the other seven students will start their careers.